Evangelicals meet with trump

American pastor Andrew Brunson thanked President Trump for the administration's work to free him from a Turkish prison during an Oval Office news conference Saturday afternoon, a few hours after he arrived at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, D.C.The President introduced Brunson and praised his resilience throughout the two years he spent in jail."I just want to congratulate you because you have galvanized this country," Trump said. "There's so much interest, and it's your faith, it's your strength, what you've done, gone through."Trump also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for facilitating Brunson's return."I do want to thank President Erdogan for making this possible," Trump said. "It wasn't easy, it wasn't easy for him." After introducing his family, Brunson thanked Trump for working to negotiate his release "from the time you took office.""We especially want to thank the administration, they really fought for us, unusually so," Brunson said, addressing the … [Read more...] about Released US pastor Andrew Brunson returns to US, meets with Trump

By Associated Press | October 13, 2018 at 10:25 pm By DARLENE SUPERVILLE and ZEKE MILLER WASHINGTON (AP) — Freed American pastor Andrew Brunson fell to one knee in the Oval Office and placed his hand on President Donald Trump’s shoulder in prayer on Saturday, asking God to provide the president “supernatural wisdom to accomplish all the plans you have for this country and for him.” Trump welcomed Brunson to the White House to celebrate his release from nearly two years of confinement in Turkey, which had sparked a diplomatic row with a key ally and outcry from U.S. evangelical groups. Brunson returned to the U.S. aboard a military jet shortly before meeting the president. He was detained in October 2016, formally arrested that December and placed under house arrest on July 25 for health reasons. “From a Turkish prison to the White House in 24 hours, that’s not bad,” Trump said. Brunson’s homecoming amounts to a diplomatic — … [Read more...] about US pastor freed from Turkey prays with Trump in Oval Office

Updated 7:28 am PDT, Saturday, October 13, 2018 Pastor Andrew Brunson, center, and U.S. Charge d'Affaires Jeffrey Hovenier, left, arrive at Adnan Menderes airport for a flight to Germany after his release following his trial in Izmir, Turkey, Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, A Turkish court on Friday convicted an American pastor of terror charges but released him from house arrest and allowed him to leave Turkey, in a move that is likely to ease tensions between Turkey and the United. less Pastor Andrew Brunson, center, and U.S. Charge d'Affaires Jeffrey Hovenier, left, arrive at Adnan Menderes airport for a flight to Germany after his release following his trial in Izmir, Turkey, Friday, Oct. ... more Photo: Emre Tazegul, AP Photo: Emre Tazegul, AP Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Image 1 of 1 Pastor Andrew Brunson, center, and … [Read more...] about The Latest: Trump says he’ll meet Saturday with freed pastor

IZMIR, Turkey -- An American pastor flew out of Turkey on Friday after a Turkish court convicted him of terror links but freed him from house arrest. Andrew Brunson was being flown to the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, then on to Washington, where he is expected to meet with U.S. President Trump on Saturday. The court near the western city of Izmir sentenced the North Carolina native to just over three years in prison for allegedly helping terror groups, but let him go because the 50-year-old evangelical pastor had already spent nearly two years in detention. An earlier charge of espionage was dropped. The development removed a major irritant in fraught ties between two NATO allies still strained by disagreements over Syria, Iran and a host of other issues. "I love Jesus. I love Turkey," an emotional Brunson, who had maintained he was innocent of all charges, told the court during Friday's hearing. He tearfully hugged his wife Norine Lyn as he … [Read more...] about American pastor to meet with Trump following his release by Turkey

Oct 08, 9:07 PM EDT Newsletter Signup BusinessTechnologyWorldNationalMedia & CultureOpinionSportsLuxury Business By Steve Holland 10/02/18 AT 11:58 AM WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump plans to host executives of internet and social media companies at the White House, likely later this month, White House adviser Larry Kudlow said on Tuesday.Kudlow said Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai has committed to coming back to the White House for a tech conference.“We’re going to have a little conference - the president will preside over it - we will have big internet companies, big social media companies, search companies,” he said. “And some who are dissatisfied with those companies.”ReutersReporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Doina Chiacu President Donald Trump called Google 'rigged.' Trump gestures while delivering remarks to dinner guests celebrating evangelical leadership at the White House August 27, 2018 in Washington, DC. Photo: Win … [Read more...] about Donald Trump To Meet With Google, Other Tech Executives, Says Larry Kudlow